Seeking Bengali Food during Pujo

One of the most awaited festivals for Bengalis is the Durga Puja. The Pujo Pandals dotted around the city are crowded with people lining up for the bhog in the afternoon and the cultural programmes in the evening. After paying their respects to Ma Durga.

The festivities are not just limited to Bengalis, even non-Bengalis get caught up in the festivities and seek Bengali cuisine. To eat out or dine in!

It’s a myth that vegetarians get a raw deal. Bengali cuisine abounds with a huge variety of vegetarian dishes, each cooked in a unique manner. If you think it’s all about tomatoes, ginger, garlic-based gravies, you need to experience it yourself!

Here are my favourites for Bengali cuisine, sweets and fast food. Some restaurants, some delivery only but the most interesting ones to my mind are helmed by home chefs.

Euphorhea’s Kitchen, Home Chef, 9820904694; Delivery only
This is run by renowned home chef, Rhea. She has put together an amazing Bengali menu of many vegetarian and non vegetarian delicacies which you need to order by Sunday 14th for delivery between October 16th to 19th. I strongly recommend her. Get it home delivered and have a Bengali Feast with family and friends

Hungry Cat Kitchen, Caterers, 9820928658; Delivery only
They have curated a Bengali Pujo Special Menu – Bhetki Kasundi Pulao, Dhakai Chicken Curry, Kosha Mangsho jacket potatoes. I’m drooling. Run by two talented and innovative home chefs, they specialise in giving a delicious tweak to traditional comfort food. Pre-order, for delivery between October 16-21st. Love the food from Hungry Cat Kitchen

Hangla’s, Bandra, Lower Parel, Powai, Andheri and Kandivali East; Delivery onlyThough famous for their rolls, their biryani is pretty good.

Rajbari Rasoi, Lokhandwala Andheri; Dine inThis offers a very large selection of Bengali vegetarian dishes – including the Echor Dalna (jackfruit curry), Kachkolar Kofta (raw banana), Potoler Dolma (stuffed parwal) and Kumror Chokka (pumpkin) among many others which were last cooked in my grandmother’s kitchen in Kolkata. In addition, they have a vast selection of sweet water fish varieties, from Katla, Iilish (Hilsa), Parshay, Kai, Bhetki, Aar, Telapia, Chitol and more as well as Pomfret and Prawns.

Mustard, Worli; Dine inThe newest jewel in the crown of Bengali cuisine. Offers cuisine from East and West Bengal. Bengali main course dishes come as a full meal. I loved the new take – Bangla Ghorona Maacher Thala – very different and recommended for all fish lovers. Positioned as a mezze platter, there are four small bowls of fish preparations: with pumpkin, mustard (shorshe) prawns mash, Bombay Duck slivers and fish roe

Tara Bose Kapur is a foodie, a foodie and a foodie. When she’s not discussing food, she’s possibly talking about food. But there’s loads (or loaves) more that she does in life. Like being a communications consultant to the rich, famous and needy, and advising some of the hottest brands in the world in PR. And she runs a chhota bakery in Bandra that makes some yum (and sinful) stuff. For Xyngr, Tara Bose Kapur reviews eatspots around town. Xyngr reviews anonymously and pays for its meals.